Hardy Kruger is Potato Fritz, an eccentric farmer trying to make a living in the middle of Indian territory.
He’s friends with a bear cub. He hangs his weapons on a pole to show the Indians he means them no harm.
Still, they’ll occasionally try to burn out his home. Whereupon, he’ll saddle up, head to the nearby settlement and drown his sorrows in whiskey, drinking from five cups at the same time.
That settlement is isolated thanks to a barren stretch controlled by the Indians, who think they’ve been betrayed by the whites they allowed to live there.
Few have managed to make it through that stretch. One exception: Bill Ardisson (Stephen Boyd), though he narrowly escaps death.
He’s been lured by the tale of $30,000 in lost gold, which went missing when an Army detail was ambushed in the area years earlier.
And he’s been lured by his thirst to settle a score with Capt. Jansen, a member of that detail.
Seems Jansen is or was a man who liked to act as judge and jury. And when he found a man guilty, he crippled said man with a gunshot to the right wrist.
Hardy Kruger as Potato Fritz, filling up on whiskey after his cabin is burned in Montana Trap (1976)
Stephen Boyd as Bill Ardisson, sharing the truth about who’s been ambushing settlers in Montana Trap (1976)
Review:
An odd and at times slow-moving German-made Western that’s a bit difficult to follow if you’re watching a foreign-language print of the film.
Turns out the Indians attacking anyone who tries to cross that barren patch of land aren’t Indians after all, but whites disguised as Indians.
In one of the film’s more bizarre scenes, Fritz is lassoed by the Indians, kidnapped, then lowered over a cliff by rope to a waiting cache of loaded weapons.
Below him are the villains, once again prepared to launch an ambush on unsuspecting settlers, but for some reason not disguised as Indians this time around.
Ardisson and Fritz form an uneasy alliance in their effort to get to the bottom of the evil-doing.
Christiane Gott is alluring as young Jane Antrim, a blacksmith’s daughter who’s fallen for Fritz, though it’s difficult to understand what she sees in a drunk who typically has trouble mounting his horse when it’s time to leave the settlement.
Should an English version of the film become available, I’ll pledge to watch it. I have a feeling that there’s a poignancy to Fritz’s story that didn’t translate well when viewing the movie in a foreign language.
Christiane Gott as Jane Antrim, the blacksmith’s daughter who has fallen in love with Fritz in Montana Trap (1976)
Anton Diffring as Lt. Slade, commander of a small detachment at the isolated outpost in Montana Trap (1976)
Directed by:
Peter Schamoni
Cast:
Hardy Kruger … Potato Fritz, Capt. Henry Ebedard Jansen
Stephen Boyd … Bill Ardisson
Arthur Brauss … James Wesley
Frederick Ledebur …. Martin Ross
Paul Breitner … Sgt. Stark
Diana Korner … Martha Comstock
Christiane Gott … Jane Antrim
Anton Diffring … Lt. Slade
Peter Schamoni … The Rev. Cavenham
Dan Van Husen … Smoothie Nestler
Davis Hess … Sleeve
Runtime: 84/96 min.
aka:
Zwei gegen Tod und Teufel
Massacre a Condor Pass
Potato Fritz
Song: “He’s a Friend of Mine (The Ballad of Potato Fritz)” performed by David Hess
Paul Breitner as Sgt. Stark, part of the relief column sent to help the settlers in Montana Trap (1976)
David Hess as Sleeve, one of the villains abusing settlers heading West in Montana Trap (1976)
Memorable lines:
Sorry, I watched a non-English version of this film.
Peter Schamoni as The Rev. Cavenham, leading a new group of settlers into the area in Montana Trap (1976)
Frederick Ledebut as Martin Ross, leader of the isolated settlers in Montana Trap (1976)
Trivia:
This marked one of the final films and the last Western for Stephen Boyd, who died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1977 while playing golf. Born in Ireland, he’s likely best remembered by Spaghetti Western fans for his roles in “Shalako” (1968) and “The Man Called Noon” (1973).
Hardy Kruger became a film star in Germany in the 1950s and also appeared in several U.S. films, beginning with “Hatari,” opposite John Wayne, in 1962. In fact, he purchased one of the film’s locations, where he created a vacation home and hotel, known as Hatari Lodge. He died in 2022 in Palm Springs, Calif, at age 93.
Paul Breitner, the actor playing Sgt. Stark, was much better known as a German soccer star than an actor. In 2004, he was named as one of the Top 125 living former soccer stars by the sports international federation. He’s also one of only five players to score in two World Cup finales. He appeared in just one other film.
Hardy Kruger as Potato Fritz, cursing over a trampled potato crop in Montana Trap (1976)
The villain leading the bandits posing as Indians in Montana Trap (1976). Any help identifying this actor and his character’s name would be appreciated. Just leave a comment.
The Army’s undercover agent, sent to guide a new group of settlers in Montana Trap (1976). Any help identifying this actor and his character’s name would be appreciated. Just leave a comment.
The Indian chief who keeps a watchful eye on Potato Fritz in Montana Trap (1976). Any help identifying this actor and his character’s name would be appreciated. Just leave a comment.
Christiane Gott as Jane and her dad (anyone know who plays that part) watching Fritz leave the settlement in Montana Trap (1976). Does anyone know the name of the actor playing Jane’s father?
Hardy Kruger as Potato Fritz and Stephen Boyd as Bill Ardisson, teaming up to put an end to the mischief in Montana Trap (1976)
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